We took a chance and booked at Pontins Southport, just to see what the 'holiday camp' experience would be like. We weren't expecting luxury or anything near a 5* holiday, BUT would have at least expected to be able to sleep and walk around inside without getting soaking wet feet!!! Having been to Butlins as a child, I though it might be a good fun cheap holiday - how I was mistaken. I should have listened to the hint on the website 2 days before when it said the swimming pool is closed and full refunds would be given, but how do you explain to a 3 1/2 year old his holiday isn't happening. As we drove through the gates we very nearly went straight back round the roundabout and back out. After driving around twice trying to find a spot to park we queued for about half an hour to check in - it was disorganised chaos!! The person checking us in couldn't even direct us to our chalet because the print was too small for him to see and when I asked about the half board he didn't have a clue where it was. I got the info out about the halfboard and we had missed our slot for the food and had to search around to find the place they were serving the food and just about managed to get some 'left overs' for the kids. NOT the best start to our 4 day stay. If it wasn't a 300 mile drive home we wouldn't have stayed another minute!!! The apartment was horrible to stay in, it stunk of a mix of paint fumes and musty dampness. Even with the heating on full it was cold and unpleasant. The floor was so wet with condensation that we had to keep our shoes on the whole time - try explaining to two small children why they can't sit on the floor to play or walk around with their shoes off. Most of the time inside we were constantly telling the kids not to put things on the floor because it was wet, so much for a relaxing break. The curtains in the bedroom and front room were twotone from the wet that was running down the windows and we had to move a bed away from the wall as it had a wet patch from the ever running windows. The so called 'sofabed' was like sleeping on concrete with the frame digging into you if you dared to move. The only positive that I have to say about the whole thing was the food quality. We paid for halfboard and the food overall was of good quality and appeared to be mostly homemade. Just a shame that it was freezing in 'Lunars' and the food was cold from the minute it hit the plate. A family sitting next to us asked why the air conditioning was on and the lady very politely said that it wasn't the air conditioning there was a problem on the roof!! She went on to suggest that people should complain then something might get done about it if enough people say something. The bar in the food area was open only one of the 4 evenings, it would have been nice to have been able to have a drink with our evening meal other than fruit juice, tea or paint stripper (coffee) - after all we were allegedly on holiday. In the evenings it seemed as though the amusement area turned into the local youth club, so not much fun to be had there. The entertainment in the evenings was pointless, as once we had got to our 45minute food slot and eaten the 'fun factory' (or lack of) was packed. The kids evening party entertainment didn't start until 8, which was way too late. The soft play area was a saving grace for two children needing to let off steam, but totally out of control. There was barely any seating for adults to 'supervise' their children so how the 60+ children were all being supervised is beyond me. It states that Pontins Southport was born in 2011, from the looks of the place I would have said 1911. I would seriously consider complaining to any of the companies that have been used to refurbish the place as they have really let you down. The best part of our holiday was getting away from the scummy, rundown, filthy excuse of a holiday camp to Farmer Ted's, Martin Mere Wetlands centre and the Knowsley Safari Park - all of which I would recommend fully for excellent days out.

Southport pontins is a dirty hole the window on the chalets were disgusting where's the window cleaner the carpet in the arcade was filthy and half the games wasn't working properly the toilets was dirty and wouldn't flush and doors didn't lock. The swimming pool needed a good clean and the was sand on the bottom of the pool lockers didn't work and there wasn't enough space in the changing rooms. Some staff were rude and unhelpful only thing that's going for this place is the beach it's beautiful so don't book your hols here I had a lovely caravan in Cornwall with john fowlers for less than what I paid for this dirty hole they call southport pontins

This place is a disgrace & should be shut down. Having to wait 20/30 minutes mountainside in the blazing sun to get your key after travelling 5 hours is residuals with 2 kids. I WOULD NOT let my dog stay here it's that disgusting. I would rather live in my local kennels than this place. Very disappointing Pontins. I think you's really need to pull your fingers out and sort the place out or close it. Our apartment was filthy & stank of stale smoke & dampness. We left this place & ended up in Blackpool were we got a beautiful & clean b&b for the same price as we paid for this place. Overall disappointing & black (5-8th July) Dates we were supposed to stay but didn't even do 1 night it was that bad. Reminded me of a prison camp. Not the type of holiday I want for my kids. Got a caravan holiday at Merton Mere last year for the same price & it was brilliant. Nice big clean caravan so there is no excuse for the price of the holiday as whether you pay £50 or £150 you should get a nice clean holiday. Will definitely NOT be back near a Pontins site ever

The apartment was dismal cold and grubby.You could see daylight when the front door into apartment was shut, as we arrived when it was dark we didn't realise this and why it was so cold and draughty.The windows were full of condensation(front ones)as these were still single glazed and pools of water covered the windowsils adding to the grimness of the place even more.The cooker rings had old fat on them , so when lit the apartment stank of old stale fat.The tv was an old tiny portable,4 channels and terrible picture which was only 3/4 of the screen. The sofa bed was very uncomfortable.One of the pillows was disgusting, it was full of horrible brown and yellow stains. The photo of the apartment interior was nothing like the real thing.The table was wonky and the 4 chairs were those awful stacking chairs in diferent colours whcih looked awful and made the whole apartment look cold and uninviting and very depressing. The electric meter cards were very expensive to use and ran out very quickly. We didn't venture into the swimming pool as judging by the state of the apartment the pool would be of the same standard and reading other reviews, it was.

i had a great time at pontins, southport, for the rock night, in feb, i had promblems finding the disabled toilet, which a polite, english, lady helped, they were so clean, apart from a mirror, also the bar staff well on the same night saturday were great, with smiles, the night was really enjoyable, and i would go again, my room was clean, apart from that i did not like the weay the duvets, on the bed, were use before, so bring your own which people do, great value for money, need to sort out the electric cards though! feb 2013

the rooms are dirty and have a terrible smell. the main reception is dark, dingy and smells. the food is terrible. the swimming pool is unsafe, poor changing rooms, broken lockers, tiles missing from pool. you get told to pay for electric cards that you dont need. i wouldnt recommend Pontins at Southport to anybody. i have been complaining about my stay for 2 months with no responce from Pontins.

We arrived a bit early on the friday morning, having left home at 3am to avoid the traffic on the M6 as we had a 300 mile journey. Went into the park and asked what was the earliest time we could check in. A very rude, grumpy lady told us, no earlier than 4pm, although we was told 2pm and a sign above the receiption desk said 2pm! So we returned at 4pm, got our keys, parked up, got our luggage out, opened the very dirty white front door and was greeted with the wonderful smell of DAMP. On closer inspection, there was mould around the windows, the sofabed looked like it hadnt seen a hoover or duster since the doomsday book was written and the bathroom had hairs and dirt everywhere. I by this time was getting a little ratty, not helped by the fact I'd been awake since 1am and having just driven 300 miles, so I went to the receiption to complain. I would let a dog sleep in that room, let alone my 2 childen. Surprisingly, the manager of the site, who was most understanding, as he told me "I know how bad the rooms are!" and upgraded us to a 2 bedroom apartment - WOW! The apartment was cleanish, and there was no damp although very old and dated. Everything was fine. At about 6pm, I started to run a bath, and then to top the day off, the Hot tap, decides it dont want to turn off! So, back to receiption I go, a man gets on this walky talky thing and asks the man on the other end to go to our room and fix the tap. 2 Hours later, at 8pm, 19 hours after I first woke up, drove 300 miles to this hell hole, I return to the receiption to ask if anyone is coming to fix the hot tap that has been running nonestop for 2 hours. After an argument with the lady, I returned to the apartment and within a minute, there was a knock on the door and man standing there with a light bulb! He fixed the tap, told us he was very busy and hurried off. At 9.30pm we finally went to bed. The next day we left the park at 8am, spent the day in blackpool, stayed there on the Saturday night, and packed up and left for home at 9am Sunday morning. (25 Hours early) Dont waste your time or money -- I now require a proper holiday to recover!

Dirty depressing room. Holes in the door. Cleaned it thoroughly before unpacking. Felt guilty that we had brought our children to such a place. Staff were ridiculously unhelpful and unenthousiastic. Could have cried. Wanted to go home as soon as we got there. Sadly didn't look at any reviews before going. Wont make that mistake again! I think you will struggle to find a good review on this dump!

Me my hubby and daughter thought we need a break so i looked at pontins southport thought it looked nice so we booked it looked at the accomodation online and it looked really nice just needed a break so we booked it we went from the 21 july till 27 july when we got there we thought it was ok till we got room key and when we went in room all i could do was cry lino looked like it was from the 1960, the chairs where plastic and smell was bad. showed another room was same so my hubby said try it when i had a shower it was like the ones in the swimming pools u had a button to press and that was from 1960 too. Staff was not very helpful and never looked happy. We was half board so food was included and we had big lines for the food and most time was not good and we ended up going off site for food so was not good. There was lots to do for the kids but come on need up dating never ever going ponties again just wanted to just let people know before they book waste off money needs loads i mean loads off work

chalets need new carpets and need new bed settes i go every sept and i find it very unclean and can not sleep that good on the bed settes

i stayed here last year yes it was run down. The staff were great its the managers i blame! The place needed some loving care. the shop was basic it ran out of bake beens haha there was a pub on site that was ok.The rooms were not like the pictures they were basic i have slept in worse yes you had too queue for blankets and sheets were british we like queues lol .the food was good plenty too eat,there is a great taxi service to and from the train station that i used it was very cheep, the beach was very near 5 min walk